Cleaner



H. PRELL.

CLEANER.

APPLICATlON FILED NOV. 4. 1916.

Patented Oct. 25, 1921.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

M W W H. PRELL.

CLEANER.

K APPLICATION FILED NOV-4,1916. 1,394,789, Patented Oct. 25, 192L K 2 SHEETSSHEET 2.

/ AMIH'IIII IZYZ/EZZZJI.

% MZTQIW% lTED STATES CLEANER.

T0 at? whom it may concern Be it known that I. HENRY PRELL, a citizen of the United States, residing at Cleve land. in the county of Cuyahoga and State of Ohio. have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Cleaners. of which the following is a specification.

Thisinvention relates to cleaners and particularly to that typeiof such devices known as vacuum'cleaners;

More specifically the invention relates to a cleaner comprising a casing supported on wheels or rollers and having a nozzle provided with a month, an air conveying portion communicating with one end of the nozzle to cause'a'long'itudmal movement of the air therethrough across the surface covering, means for producing a flow of air through the nozzle and the air conveying portion, a vibrator or brush located in the nozzle and driven by mechanism actuated by the movement of the air. a suitable dust collector and ahandle for manipulating the device.

The invention may be further briefly summarized as consisting in the construction and combination of partshereinafter set forth in the following description, drawings and claims. V

Referring to the drawings Figure 1 is a side elevation of a portion of the device wit-h the motor removed; Fig. 2 is a top plan view,

the handle and bag being omitted; Fig. 3 is a horizontal section through the nozzle; Fig. 4 is a vertical sectional view on the line 4+4. Fig. 3; Fig. 5 is a sectional view of the handle showing the switch within the same; Fig. 6 is a top plan View with the rear portion of the handle in section; Fig. 7 is a sectional view one line corresponding to the line 7-7 of Fig. 1; Fig. 8 is an elevation of the handle supporting clip as viewed from the rear of the machine; Fig. 9 is a plan viewthereof; and Fig. 10 is a detail view of the vibrator.

In the embodiment shown in the drawings the casing comprises a fan portion 1 having a rearwardly and downwardly extending bracket 2 supporting a shaft-3 for receiving a rear supporting roll 4 located at substantially the center of the machine. It is also provided with a circular discharge member 5 adapted to be connected to a bag 6 or other dust collector. Rotatably mounted in the fan portion is a fan having blades 7 on a plate 7 carried by a shaft 8 adapted to be driven by the motor which is in a sep- Specification of Letters Patent:

Patented Oct. 25, 192i Application filed November 4, 1916. Serial No. 129,512.

arate casing 9 secured to the side face of the tan portion as shown. The axis of the motor. the fan and the fan portion of the casing are horizontally disposed and are parallel to the nozzle portion as will appear.

Extending from the center of the tan portion of the casing on the side opposite to the motor is an air conveyer casing portion 10 extending to the front and communicating with the end of a nozzle casing portion 11 having a vibrator and suction chamber 12 therein and 'a relatively narrow mouth 13 in its bottom. Extending to the rear of the nozzle casing portion is an ear or bracket 14 receiving a shaft 15 which is further mounted in an ear 16 shown in dotted lines in Figs. 1 and 2. Upon this shaft are suitable forward supporting rollers 17 which are spaced apart and are located near the ends of the nozzle casing portion. It will be seen that the two front rollers and the single back roller form a three point support with a single point in the rear so that one or the other of the ends of the nozzle portionmay be tilted readily for raising it over obstructions such as the edge of rugs.

The nozzle casingportion is provided at one end with an opening 18 receiving a bearing structure comprising a cup shaped member 19 adapted to be forced into the opening 18 and carrying at its center a sleeve 20 provided with a bearing 21 of wood or other suitable material. The opposite end of the nozzle .casing portions is provided with a central boss 22 having a bearing 23 therein of any suitable bearing material. The nozzle casing is still further provided at the end opposite to the air conveyer casing portion 10 with an opening 24 in its rear face for the admission of air for a purpose which will later appear. This end of the nozzle casing portion is further provided upon its top with a tubular extension 25 adapted to be closed by a cap 26. Rotatably mounted in the bearings 21 and 23 is a vibrator brush which consists of a main body portion 27 of sheet metal of S form in cross section, having a central web with side flanges 28 bent back in opposite directions along the central portion asis clearly shown in Fig. 4. These flanges are provided with openings 29 for receiving eyes 30 of wire fingers or flails 31. The openings 29 in the body portion 27 and the openings in the eyes 30 are large to permit free movement of the Hall fingers and to further permit them to yield freely when contacting with the surface cc. ering. Consequently saidliails thoroughly beat the surface covering by a series of rapidly repeated impacts and also, operating conjointly, comb the surface covering so as to remove therefrom lint and similar material which otherwise would not be removed by air suction alone.

The side flanges 28 as provided at their ends with lugs 32 and at the end corresponding to the bearing 21 these lugs project through suitable openings in a tapered cap 33 which incases the sleeve 20 and the bearing 21 as shown and receives a pivot pin 34 secured in place in the tapered cap in any suitable manner as by soldering or press fit, the pin being provided, however, with a head 35 which is arranged between the end of the body portion of the vibrator and the face of the tapered cap. This cap protects the bearing from dirt and threads picked up by the sweeper. The lugs 32 at the opposite end of the body portion extend through openings in a tapered cap 36 which is provided with a centrally disposed portion 37 adapted to receive a head 38 of a pin 39, held in place in a manner similar to the pin 34. The tapered portion of the cap 36 is provided with a peripheral radially extending flange 40 having openings for receiving lugs 41 extending from rotor blades 42 which are in turn secured at their opposite ends to a ring 43. These blades 42 are spaced around the periphery of a central sleeve 44 and form a rotor upon the body portion of the vibrator or brush adapted to be operated by the flow of air through the opening 24. When the device is in operation air enters the mouth of the nozzle and drives the vibrator or brush.

The arrangement of the exhaust from one end of the nozzle and the rotation of the brush produces a spiral endwise movement of air therethrough which has a distinct tendency to lift particles of lint, paper and the like from the surface covering.

The cap 26 is of cup shape and is provided with a cavity to receive a suitable disinfecting pad 45 arranged upon the top of a perforated plate 46 located at the bottom of the cup and held in place by a cover 47. Both the cover and plate are provided with small openings for the passage of the disinfectant. By th spiral movement of the air the germicide is brought into engagement with.the surface of the carpet.

'The handle structure comprises a bar 48. a hand grip at the upper end to be described and a pair of spaced bent arms 49 journaled upon the shaft 3. The end of this shaft 3 is flattened at opposite sides and receives a handle supporting clip 50 which is provided with an opening receiving and fitting. the flattened end of the shaft 3 and provided with a lower stop book 51, an upward limiting stop 52 and a pair of spaced rearwardly extending tongues 53 which receive and yieldingly clamp one of the arms 49 to hold the handle elevated when desired. The mounting of the handle at the rear and over the rear supporting roller renders the device easy to move over the floor.

The motor casing 9 is preferably provided with one or more openings 54 in its outer end and an opening in its inner wall 56 establishing communication from the motor chamber to the hollow space 57 between the motor and fan plate 7 whose edge is closely spaced from the casing. A slight suction is therefore produced in said hollow space which draws air in through the motor casing to cool and ventilate the motor.

Figs. 5 and 6 illustrate the operating end of the handle, which is a long bar pivoted on the shaft .3. as before described. Said arms are located on the shaft 3 a-little to one side of the central longitudinal plane of the sweeper. and consequently said arms are bent as indicated by the shade lines at 58. so that the handle bar is inclined slightly to the shaft 3, and its operating end portion shown in Figs. 5 and 6 is in the central longitudinal plane of the sweeper Bar 48 of the handle has a longitudinal slot 59 in its bottom surface to receive the circuit wires leading to the motor and the usual extension cord to be connected to a convenient lamp socket. Secured to the end of said bar is a grip comprising two members 60 and 61 suitably secured together by glue or a screw threaded attachment and having a cavity 62 in their meeting faces to receive a suitable controlling switch indicated conventionally at 63. Said switch may be of any suitable form. and as illustrated. includes two contact screws 64 to which the lead wires are attached and the transversely slidable member or rod 65 which shifts the contacts (not shown) to open and closed positions by its movement in opposite directions. The opposite ends of said rod are exposed in recesses 66 of the grip for convenient operation by the thumb and fingers of the operator.

The rotary beating member inthe nozzle, together with the associated parts, are removable from the end of the casing, being held in place by one or more small springs 67 fastened to the outer surface of the cap 19 and whose free ends 68 pass through slots in said cap and engage the inner wall of the casing. By bending up these springs with a simple implement the cap 19 may be released and the heating device withdrawn from the casing.

The cleaner described is of simple construction and when made of aluminum or some other material is of very light weight for its size and capacity. It covers a wide area of. the carpet and the vibrators therein thoroughly beat or comb the carpet to assist in removing dirt, lint, and threads therefrom. The cleaning action is also more etficient by reason of the flow of air longitudinally of the nozzle and transversely of the direction of movement of the cleaner, and the spiral whirling movement of the air along its path has a tendency to lift dirt and foreign substance which otherwise would not be picked up. The cleaner is alSO convenient to use and the. switch in the handle enables is to be turned on and off without stooping over.

What I claim is 1. A cleaner, comprising a hollow casing having a suction nozzle, means for producing a flow of air into said nozzle, three supporting rollers for said cleaner, two located adjacent said nozzle and one beneath the center of the rear portion of the cleaner, an operating handle for said cleaner pivoted on the shaft of the rear supporting roller, and a clip secured to said shaft arranged to engage said handle for supporting same in either an upper or a lower position.

2. A vacuum cleaner, comprising a casing provided with a suction nozzle, means for producing a flow of air through said nozzle, an elongated member of S shape in cross section rotatably mounted in said nozzle, and a plurality of stiff flail fingers loosely connected at intervals to the opposite longitudinally extending edges of said member and adapted when said member is rotated to beat and comb the surface covering.

3. A vacuum cleaner, comprising a casing having a suction chamber and an elongated nozzle portion having a mouth and communicatingat one point in its length with said chamber; said nozzle portion being also provided at ,another point in its length and above said mouth with an opening to the atmosphere, whereby a free flow of air is produced lengthwise in said nozzle portion toward the suction chamber in the space above the surface coverin 4. A vacuum cleaner, comprising a casing having a suction chamber and an elongated nozzle portion having a mouth and communicating at one end with said chamber, said nozzle portion being also provided at its opposite end and above said mouth with an opening to the atmosphere, whereby a free flow of'air is produced from end to end in said nozzle portion toward the suction chamber and above the surface covering.

5. A vacuum cleaner, comprising a casing having a suction chamber and an elongated nozzle portion having a mouth and communicating at one end with said chamber, said nozzle portion being also provided at its opposite end and above said mouth with an opening to the, atmosphere, whereby a free flow of air is produced from end to end in said nozzle portion toward the suction chamber and above the surface covering, and a rotatable member in said nozzle portion adapted to beat and comb the surface covering'.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

HENRY PRELL. 

